Level Up!: The Guide to Great Video Game Design

Book Description

Want to design and build cutting edge video games? Not sure where to start? Or just want to tweak the projects you're already working on?

Then this is the book for you!

Written by leading video game expert Scott Rogers, who has designed the hits; Pac Man World, God of War, Maximo vs. Army of Zen and SpongeBob Squarepants. This book is full of Rogers' whit and funky style which demonstrates everything you need to know about designing great video games.

Level Up! has been written with all levels of game designers in mind. The first chapter is aimed at readers new to game designing…but if you're not a beginner then feel free to skip the first chapter and delve straight in to the serious stuff!

It covers the entire video game creation process, allowing you to learn:

How to develop marketable ideas

What perils and pitfalls await them during a game's pre-production, production and post-production stages

Creative ideas to serve as fuel for your own projects from game theme and environments to gameplay mechanics

All in all it's an indispensible guide for video game designers both 'in the field' and the classroom.

Other topics covered:

Understanding what gamers want

Compelling character design

Working with player actions

Techniques for non-human characters

Camera techniques - the camera as a character

Designing UI and HUD

Beautiful level design

What game designers can learn from theme parks

Combat, puzzles and game mechanics

Fun and UNFUN

How to make the world's greatest Boss battle (and why not to do it)

and tons more - including the business of design, creating design documents, the pitch and more.